Grapple



G. P. HEMSTREET.

GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE20, 1919.

PatentedApr. 18, 1922.

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GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED IIINEzo, 1919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.'

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Inveno eowgelje unir4 .STATES PATENT ".vFFC.

GEORGE P. HEMSTREET, OF HASTINGS-UGNHUDSGN, NERV YORK7 ASSIGNOR To INTERNATIONAL PAVEMENT C0., OIF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, .A GORPORA- TION 0F CONNECTICUT.

GRAPPLE.

images.

Application filed .Tune 20,

To .all `whom t may concern:

.Be it known that fl, GEORGE l). HEMs'rRiiiicr, a citizen of `the United States, vand a resident oi Hastingsupon-Hudson, in the county of Westchester and `State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Grapples, of which the following description, in connection w1th the accompanying drawings, is -a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to grapplesor .tongs ilor .hoisting purposes. lV'hile the principles of the invention are adaptable to tongs designed ffor various purposes, have h ere chosen for purposes of illustration 'a design more particularly intended for lifting piles of brick, each pile as a unit.

My invention will best be understood `by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a side elevation of a grapple illustrating my invention, with a part broken away;

Fig. 2 is Yan end view thereof'as seen from the right in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale on line 4 4 ofFig. 1;. and

Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, I lhave there shown a grapple` adapted to lift a pile of brick by the Vengagement of yopposed clampmembers with the bricks in the bottom layer oi. the `pile in wellv known manner; and 'tor purposes of illustration I have shown a grapple in which both vclamping members are movable, moving toward orfrom each other when the grapple is operated. Y

As herein shown, the clamping elements of the grapple comprise twoswinging arms 7 and 9 Vconveniently formed as 'best shown in -F ig. 3 of a pair `o'lichannels placed Yback to back but held in. spaced relation by straps l1. To engage the load, Ythe arms may be provided with gripping 'faces and herein the arm 7 is provided with a fixed -transversely extending gripper 4bar 13, while the opposite arm 9 is provided with gripping means lhaving provision for equalizing the l pressure between it and the bar 13 to compensate ylfor any irregularities of the load.

l 'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented api-.'18, 1922. 1919. -Serial No. 305,656. z

Herein :(see F ig. '5) there is provided a transverse bar l5 at the lower end of arm 9 pivoted centrally on a vertical `pivot 17 and normally positioned `parallel to ythe -opposed bar 13 by means of springs 19 interposed between the Vbar l5 and the abutment 2l also carried by the lower end of the arm 9. In the embodiment of ythe invention shown the bar l5 does inot directly engage the load but is provided .at either'end with a shoe 23 having a suitable gripping face 25, as best shown in Fig. l., and pivoted to the bar l5 on ra vertical pivot 27. The shoes 25 are also normally :positioned parallel with the opposed gripping face or' the bar 13 by means of suitable springs 29 interposed between the ends ofthe shoes on either side of their pivots and thefiont of the bar l5.

vTo provide additional support i'oi' the shoes 23, they may be provided with suitable ears 3l between which are pivoted rods 33 supported at their upper en ds in brackets 35 on the arm 9.

y The swinging arms 7 and 9 swine` about suitable'bearings which have herein shown as consisting of blocks 37 adapted to be received between the channels of which the arms are composed-'and having trunnions receiving yand' supporting the channels. Means are provided for relatively positioning the blocks 37, which means desirably provide for adjustment of the same 'toward and 'from one another; and herein I have shown the two blocks as constituting nuts receiving, respectively, the right and left threaded portions of a rod 39 directly connecting' the blocks 37 and relatively positioning the same. The rod 39 may be provided Ywith a hand wheel 40 permitting the adjustment of the blocks toward and from one another in the manner of a turnbuckle.

The arms 7 and 9 are operated to clamp the load by ka suitable lever system .actuated by the vstrain developed through the hoisting mechanism with which the grapple is used. Herein this system takes the form oi' two bell cranks 41 and 43 pivoted at 45 and 47 adjacent the upper ends of the arms 7 and 9 and between the channels from which these arms are formed. The shorter arms 'of the bell cranks are pivoted to and ind a bearing in a transversely extending frame member 49 which may consist, as best shown in Fig. 4, of two plates separated by lever 43..

suitable spacing sleeves 51, the platesreceiv-A ing between them, as shown 1n Fig. 2, the shorter. arms of the bell cranksll and 43.

The longer arms of the bell cranks extend l j ment plates 69 supported by brackets 71 proinwardly and may conveniently extend past each other at the center of the frame to provide a powerful mechanical advantage and j for this purpose one of the levers, as lll, may bebifurcated at its `outer end, herein as shown in Fig. 3 by being provided with the separate and attached tine portions 53 receiving between them Athe opposite end of The bell cranks lll and 43 may be connected by suitable links 55 with a shackle 57 adaptedAt-o receive the hook of a hoist in such manner that the weight of the4 Vload when the hoist is operated will, through the links v55, draw upwardly on the long arms of the bell cranks,4 rocking the same about ltheir fixed pivots on the frame member 49 and thus thrusting outwardly the upper ends of arms 7 and 9v and causing the inner ends to approach each other and clamp the load as will be well understood by inspection of Fig. 1.

The construction described permits a ready l adjustment of the grapple arms to the size of theload to be lifted by means of the rod 39, the trunnion blocks 37 being moved directly toward each other in a right line. The adjusting means is very simple and leaves the space between the arms which is vto receive the load entirely unobstructed..v This initial adjustment permits the use of" a great mechanical advantage', through the levers 41 and e3, since only a very short travel of the gripping facesofthe grapple arms is necessary.` j Consequently, an enormous gripping power maybe applied to the lower1 ends of the gripper arms through the bell j cranks. Y

To permit the grapple to be moved'by the hoisting apparatus without clamping action, a suitable latching means may be provided,

, herein exemplifiedby the bar 59 carried by vthe pivot of shackle 57 and having a hook 6l adapted to engage a pin 63 on the frame member 49, thereby to prevent Ythe levers ll and ,i3 from being drawn upwardly. The pin 63 may convenientlI l Y beneath the pivot of shackle 57 and the bar 59 may be provided with a hanging, camlike nose portion 65 adapted tovride over the pin 63 to permit the same to enter' the throat ofthe hook. ToV prevent engagement of the` latch lwhen suchaction is not desired, the lslidabley keeper 67 may be provided, attached to the bar 59 by a pin and slot connection and adapted to closefthe throat of the hook. If the keeper 67 is withdrawn` the pin 63 when the grapple is lowered will ride alongy the oblique nose portion65 of theV bar until it comes opposite the `throat of the hook, when the bar will be directlyv be permitted to swing under kgravity ,toy a,A Y

vertical position so that the hook engages about the pin. j

Herein l have jecting inwardly from rthe inner faces of the shown (seeFig. vl)Y abuty swinging arms 7 and 9 and adapted to 'en-' gage the upper surface of the load when thel grapple is lowered over it.- There arek of the bar 13 and the clamping faces 25 ofV the shoes 23 would be so positioned as accurately yto engage thelowermost Arow of the pile of brick. In the example shown, furthermore, *wherein these `abutment elements are located below the pivots fof the swinging arms 7 kand 9, the engagement thereof with the top of the load will tend to swing these arms in such a manner as to clamp the load between them, thus `providing for an initial engagement of the grapple with the load. yVlfhen the hoisting pressure is applied, therefore, this initial Yengagement will prevent the arms from sliding upwardly alongy the sides of the load before the lever, system can ac-t tov apply an adequate clamping pressure thereto.

To permit the deposit of articles handled by the grapple, in regular order with suit! able spaces between, suitable gage vmeans may be utilized projecting from the side of the grapple; and I have herein ,(see Fig. llshown a sector 73 pivoted'between the channels which Amake up vthe arms 7 and 9 and provided with an exterior'operating handle75. Ther sector may, if desired, be swung out of the wayfbetweenV the vchannels or moved to the projecting Aposition shown,

'a set screw 77 or other suitable clampingVv l means being provided forjsecuring-it in `adj ustedl position. Y

. t will be noted that in Vthe kdesign of grapple shown thev operating mechanisms f including the variousswinging levers of the system.. are disposed inwardly between the arms7 and 9, thus making possible the utilization of the gage element 7 3, as shown.-

Having thus described inV det-ail an il-.j

cranks each having an arm pivoted on said Vframe and having other arms extending inwardly, depending grapple arms mounted on ythe axes of said bell cranks,lower pivot bearings for said arms and aspacing-con-v nection between said bearings. Y ,v ,j '2'. .A grapple Vcomprising a frame, bell cranks each having an arm pivoted on said frame and having other arms extending inwardly, dependingV grapple arms mounted on the axes of said bell cranks, lower pivot bearings for said arms and an adjustable spacing connection between said bearings.

3. A grapple comprising a frame comprising a pair of spaced plates, levers pivoted between the platesdepending grapple arms also comprising spaced plates and receiving between them portions of said levers to which the said arms are pivotally connected, said plates also receiving between them trunnioned bearing elements on which the grapple arms may swing and a spacing con'- nection between said elements.

1l. Agrapple comprising a frame comprising a pair of spaced plates, levers pivoted between Vthe plates, depending grapple arms also comprising spaced `plates and receiving between them portions of said levers to which the said arms are pivotally connected, said plates also receiving between them trunnioned bearing elements on which the grapple arms may swing and a right and left threaded adjusting rod between said elements'.

5. A grappleA comprising a pair of grapple arms pivoted between their ends, said arms Ycomprising spaced plates, an operating lever system therefor comprising a frame received between the plates. of the arms and itself comprising spaced plates, levers received between and pivoted to the plates of the frame and also having portions received between and connected to the plates of the arms, said levers having free end portions for theconnection of suspending means.

6. A grapple comprising a pair of pivoted grapple arms and a lever system for moving the same comprising a Vframe of' spaced plates, levers received between and pivoted to said plates and connected to said arms, said levers having arms extending inwardly and one having a bifurcating portion receiving the extremity of the other.

'7. A grapple comprising a movable clamp jaw having gripping shoes pivoted thereon to swing transversely thereof, springs supporting the shoes and normally restraining their pivoting movement whereby the grapple may grip a surface disaligned with the jaw.

8. A grapple comprising a clamp element,

an opposed swingable arm and a transversely extendingclamp element pivoted on a vertical pivot to said arm.

9. A grapple comprising a clamp element, an opposed swingable arm provided with a transverse, spring-positioned clamp element provided to swing transversely.

l0. A grapple comprising a clamp ele- .1nent, an opposed swingable arm provided with a transverse, spring-positioned clamp element provided to swing transversely having pivoted, n spring-supported, gripping shoes on either side thereof.

ll A grapple comprising a clamp element,

an opposed swingable arm provided with a ple for positioning it relatively toy an veX- terior object such, for example, as a previous loadV whereby the commodities transported can be regularly arranged. f

i3. A grapple for lifting and transporting commodities comprising depending arms pivoted between their ends, a tension operated lever system disposed between the uppei` ends of the arms and a gaging element projecting outwardly from one of said arms to-position the grapple relatively to an eX- terior object prior to the release of the load.

14. A grapple having an adjustable gaging element projecting from a side thereof comprising a pivoted sector having means for clamping it against rotation.v

` Vl5. A grapple comprising a clamp element and an opposed movable clamp element comprising a pivoted arm,k tension-operated means for swinging said arm and an inwardly projecting abutment on saidA arm adapted to engage a load, said abutment being located below thepivot of the arm whereby its engagement with the load will f apply a preliminary clamping pressure thereto. Y l

16. A grapple comprising a clamp element and an opposed movable clamp element comprising' a pivoted arm, tension- Y operated means for swinging said arm and an inwardly'projecting-abutment on said arm adapted to engage a load and providing a gage for positioning the lower` end of the arm. i

ln testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification.

' GEORGE P. HEMSTREET.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,413,225, granted April 18, 1922, upon the application of George P. Hemstreet, of Hastings-upon-Hudson,

New York for am ini rovement in Gra )les errors a ear in the )rinted s eeication requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 6l, claim 9, for the Word provided read pivotal; same page, lin'e (55, claim 10, for the word provided" read pivoted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D., 1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

